Abstract

We demonstrate an ultrahigh- slotted two-dimensional photonic crystalcavity capable of obtaining strong interaction between the internal light field and the mechanical motion of the slotted structure. The measured optical quality factor is for a cavity with an effective modal volume of . Optical transduction of the thermal motion of the fundamental in-plane mechanical resonance of the structure is performed, from which a zero-point motion optomechanical coupling rate of is inferred. Dynamical back-action of the optical field on the mechanical motion, resulting in cooling and amplication of the mechanical motion, is also demonstrated.

Received 20 June 2010Accepted 08 October 2010Published online 04 November 2010

Acknowledgments:

A.S.N. and T.P.M.A. contributed equally to this work. This work was supported by the DARPA/MTO ORCHID program through a grant from AFOSR, and the Kavli Nanoscience Institute at Caltech. A.S.N. gratefully acknowledges support from NSERC.